Picket Fence Weblog

Do you have nosy neighbors?   Do they like to  sit on their back deck and use your family as entertainment?  I know plenty of folks who have told me similar stories.  Not only do some of these stories include neighbors just staring, but some of these same neighbors wait until you come out so they can come over and talk.  It gets tiresome.  Short of putting up a hedge fence or an expensive yard barrier fence, there isn’t much you can really do.  Giant wooden fences that surround your yard can be extremely expensive and hedge fences are, well, ugly.

This Privacy Trellis is much better looking, can be used to grow hanging plants, and will protect you from the eyes of nosy meddling neighbors.  It adds a little bit of old world charm to your backyard, too.  If this doesn’t seem big enough for protect you from those prying eyes you can try the  Outdoor Privacy Screen.

Just trying to help you keep your summer fun between you and and the fence….

As always, Art.

Art’s blog about bugs really started me thinking on how much insects upset me when I see them in my house. I especially hate spiders and silverfish. They just creep me out. There was a silverfish on my ceiling the other night. I used the Bug Buster to catch it. This handy device generates suction that captures the bug. You can then release it outside (or down the toilet). Silverfish are pretty speedy, so you need to be quick. It works great for other creepy crawlies as well. Picket Fence sells a huge assortment of pest control products.

Check them out HERE.

Until next time… Ann

“Two-legged creatures we are supposed to love as we love ourselves. The four-legged, also, can come to seem pretty important. But six legs are too many from the human standpoint.” ~Joseph W. Krutch

Now that the bugs are coming back out (I saw 2 bugs this past weekend) you may want to get thinking about stopping them.  Granted, 2 bugs is not an epidemic, but they are coming and it wont be long.  Many of us have garages that are attached to our home.  Very helpful, especially in the winter.  In the summer, it can be an easy refuge for bugs, critters, and pests.  I remember once that a cat got in my parents garage when I was younger.  He somehow slid underneath where the door meets the pavement.  The cat was ok, but the next morning when my dad opened the door, the cat ran out of there in a hurry.  My poor father practically fell over in fright.

All summer bugs can get underneath that door, lay  nests, and “bug” you.  Same goes for mice, rats, chipmunks, and more. 

This threshold will work.  If you have a space between the floor and the door, pests are going to get in.  A buddy of mine installed one of these last year, and said he reduced spiders, bees, and mice.  Plus, in the winter, the breeze didn’t blow under there and drop the temperature in the garage.  A very useful product!

As always, Art.

We welcomed the first day of Spring with temperatures in the 30’s. No surprise there. At least the sun is out. However, I know all too well the temperature fluctuations that occur this time of year, especially up North. We tend to get a lot of rain, especially in April - which, unbelievably, starts in less than 2 weeks. So, if April showers get you down, cheer yourself up with our fun Rain Boots. Even if it’s raining cats and dogs, you’ll be in style.

Until next time… Ann

“May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you and all your heart might desire.”

-Irish Blessing

There has been so much talk on the news channels (take your pick of Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, etc.) of how the war in Iraq has lasted 5 full years, the economy may or may not plunge, and the ongoing presidential debate between Hillary and Obama.   It’s pretty much been the same recycled stories for the past few weeks.  I’m starting to tire of it, possibly much out of boredom.

Then, Spring suddenly arrived. I know here in Western New York the first day of Spring brought more snow.  Soon, the leaves will bud and not long after April showers we start seeing beautiful blooms.

Summer really does make you seem care free, even if the worries are still there, a long quiet walk on a nice starry night might do the trick.

There is a bit of prep work to do as spring starts to usher in better weather.  I know the lawn is always an issue, trim, and any general yard clean up.  Somehow after the snow melts we find lots of strange debris resting all over the yard.  Get it cleaned up early and there won’t be any bare spots.  If it’s already too late, you can try Velocity Lawn Patch Plus. 

It’s one of the best products to date.

So here’s to the kick off of Spring!

As Always, Art.

Spring starts this week (Thursday to be exact). I saw my local town’s garden center is back open for the season so that is a good sign. Although around here, you can’t be safe planting til around Memorial Day. So, in the meantime, I have been tending to my indoor plants. I read a good tip recently on watering these plants. They suggest dropping a few ice cubes into the pot. As the ice melts, it waters your plant. How clever! If you want long term watering solutions, click HERE.

Until next time… Ann

“It’s spring fever…. You don’t quite know what it is you DO want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!” - Mark Twain

That’s right, winter is slowly receding.  There are plenty of us who are more than rejoicing at that fact.  It’s time to put away your skis and take out the golf clubs.  Well, maybe were not quite ready for that, yet.

Some of you may remember that I had started digging a garden pond at camp during the January thaw.  That turned out to be a pretty bad idea.  Now, the spring is practically here.  I am ready to get back down to camp soon (probably after Easter with family and friends) and get my project back up and running.

Now that most of the digging is done I can start focusing on cleaning and decorating.   There are quite a number of way to go about both.  Click here if you would like a little more information on getting your garden pond crystal clear.  Or click here if you want a few ideas for decorating and personalization.

As Always, Art.

How can a mortgage be green?  Is it printed on green paper?  Or is the ink green?

There is a new way to help buy and save on your new home purchase.  This might be a great way for first time homeowners to save some money and have an excellent angle on getting that first mortgage.  By purchasing an energy efficient home many companies are helping you save, figuring that the money saved on long term utility bills should be applied to mortgage costs.

Bank of America, Citi-group, and JP Morgan Chase are all offering discounts on closing costs for energy efficient homes.  These are homes built to Energy Star Standards.  There are many appliances that meet Energy Star Standards, as well as insulation, windows, and heating and cooling systems.  This can help the homeowner save on buying an old home.

If you are looking to buy a home, you can go to www.naseo.org and find the contact information for your closest state energy office.  You can contact them for the specifics on efficient renovations and low-interest loans.

Green ideals are popping up everywhere.  They are becoming integrated into every aspect of our life.  To the car we drive, to the way we heat our homes, to the way we buy our home, to our schools and jobs.

As always, Art.

Yes, it is time once again to set the clocks ahead.  We are springing forward time, for darker mornings, and lighter late afternoons.  This is the true vision of summer months to come.  And if you live in the northern half of the U.S. you know what I’m saying, loud and clear.

Does it seem that daylight saving time has gotten shorter?  I mean, does it seem like the time between “Fall”ing back and “Spring”ing forward has gotten a lot shorter?

If you think it has, then you’re right.  On August 8th, 2005 President George Bush signed the Energy Policy Act that actually changed the dates on which we change our clocks.  This is supposed to help save energy for Americans.  The data is being tracked by The Secretary of Energy.  After the study is completed, congress has the right to keep the new DST hours.   In 2004 DST started April 4th and ended October 30th, this year it starts March 9th and ends November 2nd.  Daylight Saving Time has actually gotten longer, but the time in between has gotten shorter.

So don’t forget to set those clocks ahead at 2am Sunday morning.  Lose an hour of sleep to gain an hour of sunshine.  Seems a fair trade.

Don’t want to set your clocks ahead or back?  No problem.  Get one of these:

and you won’t have to.  Unless you can find a way to.  If you do, let me be the first to know.

As always, Art.

I know we have been talking a lot about the whole green cause lately. It can leave you feeling overwhelmed, thinking “what can I do, I’m just one person?” Well, every little bit of action helps. If everyone would just do one small thing, think how far we could come. My suggestion for those of you who want to help save the earth and save on your budget is to start by replacing your light bulbs. Every time one goes, replace it with a compact fluorescent bulb. These bulbs have come a long way. In the past, they were not very bright. Technology has improved and they give off the equivalent that regular bulbs do. And, over time, they save you money. They can last up to 5x longer than regular bulbs and cost less to use. They also come in more shapes and sizes for every kind of lamp or fixture.

 Two you might want to start out with:The Mini Twist - these compact bulbs fit all types of fixtures and you get a set of 4! Natural Bulb - I love this one because it simulates sunlight.Start small and remember - little changes add up to big ones!  Until next time… Ann :)